Image: Pat Cummins may miss Australia's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka / © News24
Being the winners of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 3-1, Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain, may miss the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to family commitments. Cummins is expecting the arrival of his second child, making it challenging for him to be available for the tour.
During the post-match press conference, he expressed that he would like to continue leading the Australian team for as long as possible, citing his enjoyment in the role. Cummins’ leadership led Australia to victories in both the 2023 ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship, cementing his legacy. He stated:
First of all, I absolutely love what I do. That’s the biggest driver in wanting to play Test cricket and work with this team and support staff. I love everything about it; it’s that much fun. If I can keep doing it for a while, even better. You always talk about [succession]. We have two vice-captains in the team. We have had three debutants in this series. You’re always balancing between the here and now, but have a bit of an eye towards the future. These are conversations we always have, but I don’t think there is any point in doing things for the sake of it. Those can play out over the next few years.
Despite the possibility of missing the Sri Lanka tour, Cummins emphasized the importance of balancing the present and future leadership of the team, with players like Steve Smith, who has previously filled in as captain, potentially leading the team. Smith will likely lead the side in Cummins’ absence for the Sri Lanka series.